Sequence switch



H. P. MIXER SEQUENCE SWITCH Jan. 5,y 1943.

Filed Oct. 3, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR HAROLD P. MIXER BW ATTOR N EY Jan. 5, 1943. H P, MlxER 2,307,633

SEQUENCE SWITCH Filed Oct. 5, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 .1 f Q L..

i MIEL i /Alilillllll 1/1 E z 5;?! IYl/I n INVENTOR HAROLD P. MIXER e/TTORNEY Jan. 5, 1943. H. P, MIXER 2,307,633

- SEQUENCE SWITCH Filed Oct. 3, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3

i I 20 INVENTOR HAROLD P. MlxER TTORN EY H. P. MIXER SEQUENCE SWITCH Jan. 5, 1943.

Filed Oc'l'..` 3, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGS - INVENroR HAROLD P. MIXER ATT NEY Jan. 5, 1943. HA P MlxER 2,307,633

SEQUENCE SWITCH Filed Oct. 3, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 7

l NTOR HARO RMIXER ATTO EY H. P. 'MIXER SEQUENCE SWITCH Jan. 5, 1943.

8 Sheets-Sheet 5 TORNEY INVENTOR HAROLD F. MIXER Filed Oct. 5, 1940 Jan. 5, 1943. H. P. MIXER 2,307,633

SEQUENCE SWITCH Filed oct. 3f 1940 s sheets-sheet 7 lNvENToR HAROLD P MIXER Jan. 5, 1943.

FIGII H. P. MIXER SEQUENCE SWITCH Filed Oct. 3, 1940 v8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR HAROLD P. MIXER Patented. Jan. 5, 1943 SEQUENCE SWITCH Harold P. Mixer, Rockville Centre, N. Y., assignor to Remington Band Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application October 3, 1940, Serial No. 359,468

(Cl. 20D-6) 4Claims.

This invention relates to circuit controlling apparatus including what are commonly called sequence switches, whereby means are provided for automatically controlling a series of circuit changes in a denite and predetermined sequence. A particular application of this invention resides in the sequence control used in multiplying machines, one form of which is described herein.

The invention includes novel means for accomplishing sequential circuit switching whereby the number of switch contacts, previously necessary to this accomplishment, is materially diminished. The present invention includes asequence switch which is an improvement upon the switch described in Patent No. 2,214,029, granted to H. P. Mixer on September 10, 1949.

The primary object of this invention is to irn-y prove the multiplying machine disclosed in the above patent lespecially with respect to the sequence switch and the electrical connections and mechanical devices directly associated with it. The switch is improved in mechanical construction. Also, the present invention includes an improved switch-operating means and some improved electrical connections outside the switch. In particular, the switch is so constructed and its operating circuits so controlled that it now requires only about half as many contacts as it did previously.

The invention resides in a sequence switching device of improved construction and in certain improvements in the means for operating the switch as well as in certain improvements in the electrical connections and circuits associated with it which will be particularly described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will bev apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional View of one-half of the switch unit showing the clutch actuating means, the slip rings, and the rotary contact blades;

Fig.v 2 is a continuation of Fig. 1 and shows, in sectional view, the control contact blades and slip rings;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1 andshows one plate of the automatic clutch for actuating the sequence switch;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. l and shows the second plate of the clutch together with two operating magnets;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fis. 1, and shows a stationary contact brush in contact with a slip ring;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6 6 of Fig. l and shows a stationary contact brush ready to make contact with the switch blades;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 2 and shows a stationary contact brush in contact with one of the control sectors;

Fig. 8 is an isometric view of one of the stop arms showing its double arm action and eccentric shaft, and

Figs. 9, 10, and 11, when viewed together, form a diagrammatic scheme of connections of a multiplier circuit using the present sequence switch.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the switch is rotatably mounted on a base 2li having supports 2| and 22 at each end thereof. In each support there is mounted a ballybearing 23 and 24 in which a shaft 25 is journaled. At both ends of this shaft, but inside the bearing points, are two groups of slip rings 26 and 21. Between these slip rings are two groups of contact blades. One of these 28 is designed for clutch control purposes while the second 29 is used for the sequential switching operations.

A plurality of stationary brushes 30 and 3| (see Figs. 5 and 6) is secured to the base 20 by an insulator block 32. The contact members are secured inslots cut in the block 32 and are held down by a cover strip 33 which is bolted to the base 20.

The upper portions of the contact springs 30 and 3| are slotted for greater exibility and the ends thereof are bent toward the rotating members to effect a contact along a horizontal line which passes through the center of the shaft 25.

The first group of slip rings 26 (Fig. l) 'is engaged by ten stationary contact brushes 3| (Fig. 5). The rst group of rotating blades 29 is .engaged by twenty stationary contact brushes, 30 shown in Fig. 6. The second group of rotating blades 23 is engaged by two stationary contact brushes 30A and 30B one of which is shown in Fig. 7 and the second group of slip rings 2l is engaged by fifteen stationary contact brushes 3| in a manner similar to the first set shown in Fig. 5.

The rotating switch control blades 23 are mounted on insulating sleeves 34, which, in turn, are mounted on rods 35 secured at one end to a flange 36 which is attached to the shaft 23, and at the other end to a flange 39 free on shaft 23. There are thirty blades in all, nfteen each in two rows, but, because of certain cross connections wmch win bedescribed hereinafter, only uiteen wire connections are necessary to be brought out.

vmanner to blades 28,. An insulating sleeve 38 is placed on the. rod 31 and the blades are positioned thereon with a plurality of short spacing sleeves,l i

40 between them.- There are only ten blades on a single rod/but the rods are each long enough to hold twenty because each group of blades on 65 which is free to rotate and its position is reany one rod is progressively onset an amount equal to one blade spacingfrom its adjoiningl l rou v g 'Ihre onset arrangement may be more clearly shown by reference to' Fig. 10. In this figure the arrow points 38 indicate the stationary, contact brushes and the circles 29 represent the sequence switch blades. The rods 31, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, support groups of blades which are disposed -along horizontal lines in Fig. 10 parallelj to the line of contact springs 38. The rotary movement of the blades around the shaft 25 wouldv be rep resented in Fig. 10 by a vertical movement of the blade assembly 29 past the contact points 30.

The connection between blades 29 is also shown in Fig. 10 and is a major part of the structural unit since said connections are made by soldering together integral wing portions 29A of the blades which are bent atan angle to permit the oiset connections to be made. A

When completed the series of contact blades 29 form ten spiral conductors on the skeleton surface of a. cylindrical drum, each spiral conductor having eleven protruding blades equally spaced along its length.

The diagonal connections described above reduce the lead-in conductors to ten, the ten slip rings 26 being employed to convey current from them to the stationary contact brushes 3|.

The supporting rods 31 are secured to two anges 4| and 42 which are pinned to shaft 25. Suitable insulating sleeves 43 and 44 are also employed to support the slip rings 26 and 21 which are collectvely'secured to the shaft by sleeves 49. Connections from the slip rings 25 and 21 are made to the contact blades 29 and 28 by means of wires enclosed in flexible insulating tubing 45 land 46 and conducted through holes cut in the slip rings 28 and 21 close enough to the shaft 25 to be out of the way of the contact springs.

is not operating.' A spring 8| keeps the pawl 58 in engagement. I'

Secured to the free end of pawl 53 is a pin 32 which extends through a slot 83 in plate 50 and a cam slot 54 in plate 5|. vThe hole 63 permits limited free motion of the pawl but cam slot 34 denitely positions the pawl in accordance with the relative position of the two plates 58 and 5|.

As mentioned above, plate 50 is secured to shaft 25. Plate 5 I however, is secured to a sleeve stricted only by a stud 65 (Figs. 3 and 4) which is secured to plate 50 and extends through an oval hole 61 in plate 5|. A spring 58 is stretched between the stud 86 and a pin 10 on plate 5|, hence there is always a tendency to rotate plate 50 clockwise in relation to plate 5|.

As long as .the two plates 50 and 5| are not positioned by any external means, the spring 58 will cause the relative rotation described above and the cam slot 64 will cam the pin 62 toward ,the shaft 25 and engage the pawl 53 with one of the teeth of wheel 48. This is the operating position of the clutch by which the sprocket wheel 51 turns the sequence switch shaft 25.

To disengage the clutch either one of two stop arms 1| or 12 may be interposed in the 'path'of the teeth cut in plate 5l. Fig. 4 shows the arm 12 in this position. Due tothe inertia of the moving parts, plate 50 together with pawl 53 continues to move in a counter-clockwise direction and the pin 62 is forced away from shaft 25 by the action of cam slot 54. This draws the pawl 53 out of engagement with the teeth of At one end of the shaft z5, outside the. bau

bearing 23, is a clutch 41 (see Figs. l, 3, and 4) comprising a toothed wheel 48 and two plates 58 and 5|. Wheel 48 is the driver and contains a plurality of ratchetteeth 52 by which it engages a pawl 53 to cause rotation of the shaft 25.

Clutch plate 50 is secured to the end of shaft 25 and transmits the rotating power received from wheel 48 to the switch structure. Pawl 53 is rotatably mounted on a stud set near the periphery of plate 58 and engages the teeth of wheel 48 when the clutch is engaged. An additional pawl 58 engages the ratchet teeth on plate 59 to prevent back motion and keep plates 50 and 5| in disengaged relation when the clutch 75 wheel 48 and the sequence switch stops. The position of pawl 58 is such that it will engage one of the teeth in plate 50 when the pawl 53 is in 'its fully disengaged position. Therefore, the combined action of pawl 58 and stop arm 12 results in a relative displacement of plates 50 and 5| which keeps pawl 53 out of engagement.

Stop arm 12 is a complex double lever mechanism and is more fully shown in Fig. 8. The operation of the lever is effected by an electromagnet 13 which attracts its armature 14 turning on a pivot 15. A slot 16 in the armature engages a pin 11 which is secured to a short arm 18 of the stop-arm 12. Another short lever .arm 8|' extends upwardly and at right angles to the 4main arm 12. The arm 80 supports one end of a spring 8|. l'

Stop arm 12 is formed with a boss 83 and is secured to an eccentric shaft 82 by a set screw. The reduced eccentric portion of shaft 82 is journaled in brackets 84 (only one shown in Fig. 4) secured to the base 20. g

-An auxiliary lever arm 85 (Fig. 8) is mounted adjacent to the arm 12 and rotates freely on the eccentric part of shaft 82. An extension 86 is .provided to serve `as anchor for one end of the spring 8| and a turned-over portion 81 ts under the end of levier 12 and makes contact with the teeth of wheel 5|. Y The operation of the stop-arm assembly is as follows: When the armature 14 is pulled down the arm 12 is rotated in a clockwise direction as seen in Figs. 4 and 8. This action, however, may

not at once rotate the auxiliary arm 85 since its ment of shaft 8l in a clockwise direction will move the turned-over portion 91 to the left. This motion, while quite small, is made in a very short space of time and is enough to free the portion 81 from the tooth, after which it rotates upwardly -under the action of spring Il and both levers II and 12 are stopped by a limit pin Il.

' When the stop arm 12 is raised, the clutchv is engaged and the sequence switch is rotated until either of the stop arms 1I or 12 is lowered. In many operations, however, the arm 1| is lowered before arm 12 is raised, in which case the switch moves only one tooth or to the next series of switch blades 29. y

Stop arm 1| is also composed of two levers Joined by a spring 99. An electromagnet 9| causes the actuation of stop arm-1| by means of an armature 92, a pin93, and a slot 94. The pin 93 is secured to a lever 95 which lies alongside stop arm 1| and has a turned over portion 96 which engages arm 1| and raises it when the electromagnet is deenergized. The spring 90 is stretched between the lever 95 and arm 1| to carry the arm downwardly to make contact with one of the teeth on wheel 5| when the magnet 9| is energized. An eccentric shaft 91 similar to shaft 82 is employed to carry lever 95 and act as pivot for arm 1|. As is indicated in Fig. 4, the eccentric portion is above the center of rotation so that the arm 1| is pulled away from the engaged tooth as it is lifted.

During the operation of the sequence switch when it is being moved one step at a time, stop arm 1| is lowered in advance of the raising of arm 12 so that there will be no possibility of moving more than one space. To make such an arrangement possible the engaging portion of arm 1| is made slightly longer than necessary to over. lie the next adjacent tooth, when the wheel 5| is engaged by stop arm 12.

The mechanical operation of the sequence switch may be understood from the above description. 'I'he parts are normally as shown in Fig. 4, with the arm 1| held out of and the arm 12 held in engagement by the usual armature springs. If the circuit of magnet 13 be closed momentarily, arm 12 will release the engaged tooth of disc 41, and return in time to engage the next tooth, thus turning the switch one step only. If the circuit be closed for a longer time, the switch will make a continuous rotation over a plurality of spaces, until the circuit is broken, whereupon the arm 12 will move into engagement and arrest it, the distance the switch rotates depending on the length of time the circuit is closed. When advancing step-by-step, it is preferable to use the arm 1| also. Its magnet 9| is energized an instant before magnet 13, and is 'I'he electrical operation of the switch can be best understood from the example illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. As shown inthe latter gure, each of the diagonal series of blades 29 is connected'by a horizontal lead line shown at the top of Fig. with the multiplicand stack |00 illustrated. In this stack the horizontal lines reprel senting numerical `denominations,.the topmost line being the lowest and the vertical lines representing, respectively. the digitsl to 9. This stack is so constructed that any one oi' the vertical lines may be electrically connected with any one of the horizontal lines. Thus, the fourth denominational line' from the top is shown connected with the vertical line representing the digit 6.

The ten pairs of diagonally connected blades 28 are each shown connected by horizontal denominational lines with the multiplier stack 98 in which the vertical lines again represent digits, the topmost onel being the lowest. When the switch is in its rest position, the row of brushes 30IOA and 39B stand one space above the topmost row of blades 29, the brush 30A being then in, contact with blade 28| The first step brings the right-hand ten of the brushes 30 into contact with the topmost row of blades 29 and brings brush 30A into contact with blade 282. In this position brush 30A is electrically connected with the units of the multiplier stack and the rightmost brush 3|) is electrically connected with the units of the multiplicand stack |00. There are twenty of the brushes 30 shown connected with denominational magnets lettered A-T, inclusive. and in this positionblades 29 are connected with magnets KT, inclusive. When the switch steps down to the fourth longitudinal row of contacts 29, magnet Q is connected with the fourth denomination of the multiplicand stack, and, therefore, is set by digit 6 and brush 30A is connected with the fourth denomination oi.' the multiplier stack, and, therefore, with the digit 9, and the multiplying machine is so constructed that in this position the units of the partial products of 6X9 will be added into an accumulator by the magnet Q. In this same position, the fifth denomination of the multiplicand stack, shown set by the digit 8, is connected with magnet P, which will cause the registration of a two, which is the unit of the partial products 9 8. 'I'he magnets O, N, and M are, respectively, connected for multiplication by 9 of 2, 5, and 3. When these units have been added, the switch makes another step and at the same time the circuit is switched from brush 30A to brush 90B. This unit step connects the fourth denominational line from the multiplicand stack, that is to say, the digit 6 with magnet P. Since the circuit has been shifted to brush 30B, the circuit still-goes through the digit 9 in the fourth position of the multiplier stack. The tens of the several partial products are thus added each one vstep to the left of the units oi the partial products. While the` switch is still standing in this position, the circuit is again shifted back from brush 30B to 30A, which connects the circuit with the fifth denomination of the multiplier, in which the digit 3 is set up. The magnets then connected, that is to say, the magnets L--P, will cause the addition of the units of the partial products of the several digits of the multiplicand 35286 by 3 and so on. The multiplication proceeds in this Way to the end of it. Meanwhile, while this process in multiplication has been going on, other parts of the circuit, but under the control of contact blades 28 and brushes 30A and 30B, have caused the stepping of the switch by energizing the clutch magnets 13 and 9| as hasbeen described.

',Thetopmost vcontact 28| and the last three contacts in that row, namely, 299, 289 and 290 are for control purposes, which will be understood in connection with the general description of the circuit. It may be stated at this point, however, that the commutator disc |21 also exercises a certain control over the stepping of the switch. It will be seen that the primary function of the switch is to close in sequence the various circuits of the magnets A-P under control of the multiplicand set up in thestack |00, and the multiplicand set up in/the stack 98, and the commutator disc |21 also controls, according to the rules which will be explained hereinafter, the operation of the clutch and the mechanical setting of the switch.

The operation of the sequence switch in connection with a multiplying mechanism such as that disclosed in the above mentioned Patent 2,214,029, will hereinafter be described. This patent discloses complete operating details of a machine employing an older type sequence switch and an electric circuit containing commutators in which the multiplication table hasy been incorporated.

'I'he present invention is designed to cooperate with the same type of multiplying circuit as described in the above mentioned patent except for certain modifications and simplifications due to the novel and improved switch operating characteristics.

Fig. 11 shows the schematic wiring of the multiplying commutators which remains unchanged from the above referred patent.

Fig. l shows the schematic Wiring of a number of multiplying components which may be enumerated as follows: A multiplier decoding stack 98, a multiplicand decoding stack |00, a plurality (nine) of commutator relays (IUI to |89, inclusive), a plurality (twenty) of half-cent carry switches H9, a plurality (twenty) of clutch `magnets (lettered from A to T, inclusive),

the rotary switch blades 29 of the sequence switch, and the control,. switch blades 28. 'Ihese are all component parts of the multiplying mechanism and theywill be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing two switch operating magnets 13 and 9|, three relays, seven .control commutators on the same shaft as thecommutators shown in Fig. 11, four control plier operating circuits when they are needed.

The multiplying commutator segments, which are indicated in edge view in Fig. 11, are secured to a square shaft H2. Seven additional commutators are secured to this same shaft but are. shown in detail in Fig. 9 in order to more fully describethe switch action. An operating clutch H3 .(Fig. 9) is attached to one end of the square shaft H2 at 'which point it has been cut cylindrical to provide a bearing means. H3 is similar `to that described in the above patent andis put into operation by an electromag net H4 which pulls an armature H5 free of Aa lusr on one' of the clutch plates and permits it to become engaged. The circuit for clutch magnet H4 is completed through commutator H6 over conductor |51 through contacts H1 to ground when a series relay I |8 is operated.

The functions of the seven control commutators will now be described in detail. A starting commutator H6 has a 40 conducting portion which is in contact with the brushes at normal or starting position. After 10 of rotation, the circuit to clutch magnet H4 is broken and the armature I I5 falls back to its original position ready to stop the shaft after one revolution unless the circuit is again established. To stop the shaft H2 at the end of a multiplying operation, the series relay ||8 m'ust be normalized before the conducting segment of commutator l IB is engaged by the brush.

A series relay commutator |28 is provided in order to bridge the change over from units to tens position on the blades 28. This commutator has a conducting portion which keeps the series relay operated at two points in the machine cycle. Since the winding of the series relay ||8 has a low resistance, a resistor |2| of about 300 ohms is connected in series with one of the brushes to keep the current at the correct operating value.

Two stepping commutators |22 and |23 are provided to control the current through the operating magnets 13 and 9| to eiect the successive rocking of stop arms 1| and 1.2. The conducting segment of sector |23 starts at 105 after the normal or starting position of the commutator shaft and stops 60 later. During this time the stop arm 1| is stressed against the wheel 5|, ready to engage the next toothl when the wheel has been released for rotation by arm 12. Arm 12 is controlled by the conducting segment of sector |22 which starts 135 after the start of shaft I|2 and lasts only 12. y

The stepping of the sequence switch at this point is made after the units of a series of partial products have been entered into the accumulator wheels and the tens of thesev partial products are about to be entered into thelaccumulator wheels one denominational. order higher.

Two switching Vsectors |211v and 1 |25 are secured to shaft H2 in order' to" transfer .the sensing brushes 30A and 30B'fron1one 1bank -of contact blades 28 to the-other-fbankJjlIhis transferl is made necessary by thel-rotationjofthe switch as outlined in the aboveparagraph Vand 'the actual switching operationY shouldfoccur once while the The clutch l stepping actionV isin'pro'gress and back again a half cycle later.

A multiplying sector I26-is also shown in Fig. 9 because the circuits associated with it are different than in previously disclosed systems. The sector |26, however, is a simple multiplying commutator constructed in the same manner as the 5 x l sector disclosed yand described in the above patent. It is used in rounding out a product when a restricted number of decimal places are to be used and is generally called .the one-half cent carry commutator.

The digit 5 maybe added into any denominational order by" throwingv in any one of the switches in bank I Il (Fig. 10). In the case Where a double operation is `being performed, two switches may be connected, in which case a 5 is added in two denominational orders.

Shaft 25 also carries a control commutator |21 which rotates counter-clockwise as shown in Fig. 9. This commutator makes a circuit to operate the clutch at certain times when the series relay is unactuated and contacts |29 are closed. This happens at the certain times during multiplying operations when no multiplier digit or when a zero is encountered. During these periods, which will be more fully described when a sample operation is considered, the sequence switch is stepped along by the other control units.

aaomss step of theiswitch will make contact with the machine, since most of the important mechanical l results are produced by ymeans of it. The cir-v cuits are so arranged that the two shafts I3| and ||2 will never be turning at the same time.

' First, shaft Ilz is rotated a sumclent number of times to complete the multiplying action and put the sum of all the partial products in the accumulator. Then shaft |I2 is stopped and shaft |3| is rotated 'through an angie oi 90'A which puts the machine into a condition for taking a total by rectifying the accumulator wheels. As soon as the accumulator is properly set for total taking a switch |38 is closed and shaft |3| rotates through a 270 angle which prints or punches the total, normalizes the machine, and zeroizes the accumulator.

Shaft |3| is controlled in its rotation by a clutch, the control plate |33 of which is shown in-Fig. 9. An armature-|32 of a magnet |34 f engages notches on the edge of the plate to disengage the clutch plate for the proper rotation.

vltotation of shaft |3| causes certain steps of the sequence switch by control commutators |31 and |42. The former has two Ybrushes engaging its ysurface and a conducting area |4| which makes electrical contact with the shaft |3|. Another commutator |33 isalso mounted on and in electrical contact with the same shaftand is engaged by a brush |38 which is connected to ground by means of conductor |43. -Therefore, whenever one oi the brushes touching commutator |31" is brought into contact with the metal conducting area |4|, the circuit associatedwith that brush is connected to ground. The sequence of stop arm operations during the control by commutator |31 is the same as for the action governed by commutatcrs |22 and |23.` Arm 1| .is first lowered, then arm 12 is raised and lowered, and last, arm 1| is raised.

A repeat commutator |42 is secured to shaft |3| in order to cause a stepping action of the sequence switch at the very end of the machine cycle. This repeats the action as long as there are numbers available to be multiplied together. The repeat relay |43,is operated and locked in actuated condition at the start oi' the multiply- -ing cycle and commutator |33, secured to shaft |3I, is used to break the ground connection to the repeatrelay at the end of the machine Lcycle.-

thus restoring the relay to normal;

Operation Let 1t be assumed that two numbers, 35,286, and 4,239 have been entered into the machine and are to be multiplied together. The decoding stacks 88 and |38 indicate these numbers schematically by the black dots on crossed wires as is customary in the art. It makes no diiierence whether these connections are a result of a mechanically sensed punched card or a number set up in a keyboard as long vas electrical connections are made as indicated by the dots in the two stacks 88 and I 38.

The normal-or starting position of the sequence switch is at blade 28| of the switch control blades (Fig. l0) with brushv 30A making contact therewith.

The series of brushes 30 which connect with the accumulator magnets do not make contact with any of the switch blad when the switch is in its normal position but are in the position indicated by Fig. 6, in which a single |45 on commutator, |24 (Fig. 9), thence to brush |43, over conductor |41 (Figs. 9 and l0), to brush 33A and switch blade 28|, thence over conductor |43 to start key |44. thence over conductors |53 and Ill to the winding of magnet 13, tcY battery and back to ground. The result of this action is the rocking of stop lever 12 which allows the switch to be rotated. Due to the rotation, the brush soon breaks contact with blade 23|, the circuit described above is broken, and the stop arm 12 falls back on the toothed wheel 5| in time to engage the next tooth. Hence, the operation of the start key moves the switch only one step.

At the end of the first step the brush 33A which was in contact with blade 28| is now engaging blade 232 but the decoding stack 88 (Fig. 10) shows that no digit has been entered in this denominational order and'no contact is available. However, the first step has moved commutator |21 to a conducting position and this introduces another 'stepping circuit which may be traced as follows: 1

From ground through battery and winding of magnet 13 (Fig. 9), over conductor |5|, to the brushes and commutator |21, thence over conductor |53, to contacts |28 of the series relay H3, to ground. During the time this circuit is closed .stop-arm 1| is lifted and the sequence switcnrotates continually until the circuit is broken.

The above circuit is broken as soon as the control brush 38A makes contact with blade 233, which is connected 'to the iirst order in which a numeral is entered, i. e., nine. A circuit is then completed which may be traced from ground, through brush |45 (Fig. 9) commutator |24, brush |46, conductor |41, brush 33A (Fig. l0), blade 283, blade 284, contact point 8 in decoding stack 88, conductor |54, winding of relay |08, conductor |30, through the winding .of the series relay ||8 (Fig. 9) to battery and ground.

The completion of the above circuit actuates the series relay and breaks contacts |28 but makes contacts |I1 and |55, thereby completing two additional circuits, one of which may be traced from ground, through contacts |55, over conductor |56, through the winding of the repeat relay I43, to battery and ground.

This circuit actuates the repeat relay |43, which locks up over a. circuit from ground, conductor |40, brush |39, throughcommutator |38, conductor |60, contact |6|, and winding ot relay |43 to battery. The repeatrelay completes two circuits which will be described later.

The second of the above circuits energizes magnet I |4 and starts the multiplying action with the rotation of shaft I2 by the release of clutch plate H3. The circuit which causes this action may be traced from ground, through battery and winding of magnet ||4, to the brushes on commutator ||6, thence over conductor |51, ccntacts ||1 of the series relay ||8 which has been actuated, and back to ground.

As shaft ||2 rotates, the magnet ||4 is deenergized by commutator ||8 and the various commutators representing the partial products of the multiplicand and the units digit of the multiplier are connected through the accumulator magnets and.y products run into the accumulator a While the transfer is being made from brushes i wheels. A complete description of this 'method l of multiplication has'been disclosed in the above mentioned UDS. patent. It should be Pointed out, however, that the multiplying action is divided Ainto two parts, each comprising a half revolution o'f shaft, |2 to which `the multiplying commutators are secured. The nrst half revolution gives the units figures of the partial products and the second half revolutionr gives the tens figures. These two results must be entered ,into different denominational orders, hence the sequence switch must be advanced one step after the shaft has made its. rst half revolution.

As shaft ||2 revolves, the multiplying sectors on the commutators cause ilve accumulator magnets, J, K, L, M, and N to engage a series of accumulator wheels (not shown) to enter therein, the units digits of the partial products of 9 -tlmes 35,286 which are 7, 5, 8, 2, and 4. After about 120 of rotation of shaft ||2 commutators |24 and |25 cooperate to transfer the ground Vconnection frombrush 30A to brush 30B, and

at the same time commutator |22,.acting with commutator |23 asY has been explained above. steps the sequence switch to the next series of .blades and the multiplying sectors cause the nected to a number of brushes 30 which, in turn, are connected to magnets |||I to IIIN, inclusive.

When the sequence switch is advanced one step and the control switched to 30B, the same multiplier digit is connected in the multiplier circuit, since brush 30B then is in contact with blade 284 and the tens digits are entered in the accumulators by way of the same wires which now are transferred from blades 292 to 294 and 29| to 293. y

After the above described operations, the shaft ||2 continues until it is near its normal position when the ground connection is again shifted to brush 38A by means of commutators |24 and |25 and contact is'made to blade 285. Brush 38A,

39A to 38B, there mayfbefa short intervalof time when both brushes .are disconnected. This" might open and close contacts |29 'on the series relay and hence cause an extra and vunwanted stepping action. To keep the 'amature of the series relay actuated during the change-over the commutator |20 is employed to maintain ground on the circuit for the relay as has always been described.l

The multiplying action as described above will 'continue mm1 the latter han c: the fou'rth rotation of shaft |I2 when ground will again be connected to brush 30A which will then be in contact with blade 296. Under these conditions there is no current available through the decoding stack and the armature of the series relay ||8rv will be normalized, closing contacts |29 and opening contacts ||1 and |55.

The opening of. contacts ||1 stops shaft ||2 and the closing of`contacts |29 completes a circuit which may be traced from ground, through contacts |29, over conductor |53, brushes on commutator |21, over conductors |52'and |5|, to the winding of magnet 13, thence `to battery and ground. Shaft 25 will be rotated as long as the brushes remain on the conducting portion of commutator |21 so that the rotation step's the switch to a point just ninety degrees away from normal or on blade 281. `At this point shaft ||2 is again put into motion by the actuation of magnet ||4 which is due to a circuit which may be traced as. follows:

292 to 29| andthe intervening blades are con:

From ground, through battery and winding of magnet ||4, to brushes on commutator ||6, over conductor |51,\through contacts ||1. and thence to ground. This circuit is only effective when relay ||8 is actuated, said 'actuation being due to the following circuit which may be traced from ground, through battery and the winding of series relay H8, over conductor |65, through contacts |58 of the repeat relay which has been locked up. through the winding of a half-cent carry? relay |66, thence over conductor |61, to blade 281, brush 30A, conductor |41, brush |48 of commutator |24, brush |45, and ground.

by virtue of the cross connections between blades 28 is now contacting the next column in decodingstack 99. If there is no connection present, there will be no current to hold the series relay actuated, its armature will drop and current will be cut o from magnet ||4, which will release armature ||5 into the path of the clutch plate ||3; hence'the shaft ||2'wi1l stop. But if there v is a digit entered as shown, i. e.. 3, the shaft 'Ihe passage of currentthrough winding of relay |66 actuates its armature and makes contacts |68, thereby completing a circuit which may be traced from ground, through contacts |69, over conductor |10, through the brushes on the half-cent commutator |26, over conductor |1| to the bank of half-cent carry switches llll, thenceV over one or more of the conductors |12 t0 the associated accumulator magnets to battery and ground.

As explained previously, the commutator |26 is identical with the 5x1 segment in the bank of multiplying commutators, its action being to switch into the circuit an accumulator magnet which will enter a ve into the selected denominational order. The orders are selected by closing the proper switch in bank I0. Only four wires |12 have been indicated connecting switches ||0 to accumulator magnets This was done to simplify the drawings and it should be understood that each switch ||0 is connectedv by commutator |22.V During the second half revolution of shaft II2 there will be no multiplying action becausey that portion of commutator I2I is blank.

Due to the stepping action and switching of the brushes IIA and IIB, the half-cent carry operation ends with the brush IIA connected to ground `through commutator |24 and in contact with blade 2II. This is a blank blade and has been included in this description to indicate the manner in which other blank blades if they were added might be wired. Connection is made by means of conductor I1I from blade 2II to the top side of start switch |44 where conductor I II is terminated. This construction causes a stepping action in the same manner as the operation of the start switch |44 when the brush IIA was on blade 2II, thus bringing brush IIA to blade 209.

With brush IIA on blade III, a circuit is completed which may be traced from ground through brushes |45 and |46 on commutator I24.(Fig. 9), over conductor |41 to brush IIA (Fig. `10), blade 289, over conductor |14, through brush |18 on commutator III, brush I1I, to winding of mag- -net II4, battery, and ground. 'I'his circuit causes the attraction of armature II2 anda 90 rotation of shaft III. During this rotation. shaft III operates certain cams and gears (not shown) which condition the accumulator mechanism for total taking. 'I'he present mechanism has beendesigned to be used with a planetary geared accumulator and before a total taking operation is started the accumulator wheels must be "rectifled or the creep removed from the wheels. 'I'his is done by mechanism described in the above mentioned patent. Sometimes this will be done in a very short time, but if there are a number of nine digits recorded, the rectifying action will take longer. The stopping of shaft III at the 90 point is to permit enough time for the conclusion of this operation, and then continue with the remaining 270.

The total contacts |36 (Fig. 9) are mounted on the machine at the left of the accumulator in such a manner as to be closed only when the rectifying actionis complete. When these contacts are made a circuit is completed from bat- 01d switch had t0 be the exact form herein to anything less than tery and ground, through winding of magnet II4,

through the contacts |36, conductor |11, to blade 29I to cause the shaft III to be rotated 270".y

During the complete revolution of shaft III the sequence switch is stepped twice, the first step \.occurring during the 90 rotation and advancing the blades so that brush IIA contacts blade 2II. The second step is made at the start of the 270 rotation and moves the blades to the position where brush IIA is in contact with blade III. I'I'hese two steps are made as described previously by commutator |31 in conjunction with the grounded brush on commutator III.

With brush 30A again on blade 28|, the sequence switch is again in its normal or start position. But the repeat relay has been locked in actuated position for the purpose of causing a repeat action of the sequence switch without the necessity of manual operation of the start key. The repeat circuit may be traced from ground, through batteryand winding of magnet 1I, over conductors I5I and |64, through brushes III of commutator |42, over conductor |62, contacts III of repeat relay I 43, over conductor III, through brushes on commutator |38, and ground. It will be obvious from a study of the angular dispositicn's of the conducting segments that three steps 'l5 the repeat relay is locked up. If the repeat relay is open the switch will stop in its normal position.

Directly after the stepping 'action made hy means of contacts III, the locking circuit for .the repeat relay I4I is broken by the. insulating segment on commutator III. This releases the repeat relay and, if there should be no digits sensed In the decoding stack II, the repeat relay will remain unactuated and stop the sequence switch in its normal position after a complete or blank cycle. g f.

From the above it will be seen that the machine will continue to operate as long as connections are supplied to stacks II and III. When no multiplier is sensed, the machine continues for one blank cycle and then stops.

It will be noted that, while the previous sequence switch shown in Fig. 16 of'Patent 2,214,029 required ten series of twenty contacts each for the accomplishment of multiplication,.the present switch requires ten series of only eleven contacts, these contacts being numbered 29 in Fig. l0.v Thus, it is seen that the present switch is a decided improvement over the old one. Also, the stepped to each of its twenty multiplication contact positions, whereas the present switch has only eleven contact positions and, therefore, vneeds to be stepped only eleven times, lor approximately half as much. This is made possible by the arrangement of the control contacts associated with brushes IIA and IIB,

see Fig. l0, and the twocommutator sectors |24 and I2I (Fig. 9).v f

While I have described what I consider to be a highly desirable embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many changes in form could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I, therefore, do 'not limit myself to shown and described, nor the whole of my invention as hereinbefore set forth, and as hereinafter claimed.

l What I claim as new, Letters Patent, is: u

1. In a sequence switch, the combination of a drum comprising a series of longitudinal rods having contact blades mounted thereon in longitudinal rows and circumferential tiers, said blades being electrically connected in a plurality of spiral series by a set of brushes, one for each of said circumferential tiers of contact blades; a second set of contact blades arranged in two tiers certain of the blades of one tier being electrically connected diagonally in pairs with blades of the other tier; brushes. cooperating with said two tiers of blades; a commutator means to switch alternatively from one of said second set of tiers to the, other set; means for conducting current from each of said pairs of blades; means for conducting current from each of the first mentioned spiral series of blades; and means controlled in part by said second series of blades and brushes for rotating said drum and blades from one contact point to another.

2. In a sequence switch, the combination of a rotatable cylindrical mounting containing contact blades on the surface thereof, said blades arranged in longitudinal rows and circumferential tiers and electrically connected in a plurality of spiral series; a set of brushes, one for each of said tiers of contact blades; a second set of contact blades also on said cylindrical mounting arranged in two tiers. certain of the blades of one and'desire to secure by 8 tier electrically connected diagonally in pairs with ascuas the blades of the other tier; brushes cooperating with said two tiers of blades; means controlled in part by said second tier of blades and brushes for rotating said drum and blades from o ne contact position to another; and commutator means to switch alternatively from one of said second set of tiers to the other set.

3. In a sequence switch, the combination of a rotatable cylindrical mounting Vwith the blades of the other tier; brushes co'- operating with said two tiers ofblades; means controlled in part by said second series of blades containing con` tact blades on the surface thereof, said blades and brushes for rotating said drum and blades from one contact position to another; and commutator means to operatively switch alternatively from one of said second set of tiersl to the other set while the drum is stationary.

'4. In a sequence switch, the combination of a rotatable cylindrical mounting containing a plurality of contact blades arranged on the surface thereof in circumferential tiers; a series of brushes, one brushfor each tier: the blades electrically connected diagonally withA electric circuits, the contact blades of the several rows b'eing brought step-by-step into contact with their respective brushes, and a commutator device acting to complete two electric circuits alternatively through each brush and its engaged contact blade while, in the course of the step-by-step` movement referred to, said blades are held/immovable in contact with said respective brushes.

HAROLD P; mxER. 

